How to Pronounce GIVE UP: Stress, Linking & Natural Speech

GIVE UP means "to stop trying" or "to quit" — an important phrasal verb for expressing perseverance (or lack of it!).

Basic Pronunciation

Stress Pattern

Stress falls on UP:

• give = less stressed
• UP = main stress (louder, longer)

Say: "give UP" not "GIVE up"

Connected Speech

The /v/ at the end of "give" links to the vowel /ʌ/ in "up":

• Written: give up
• Sounds like: "gi-VUP" /ɡɪˈvʌp/

The /v/ connects smoothly to create one flowing phrase.

With Objects

The /v/ Sound

The /v/ sound is crucial for this phrasal verb. This is a voiced labiodental fricative:

• Your top teeth touch your bottom lip
• Air flows continuously
• Your vocal cords vibrate (voiced)

Don't Confuse /v/ and /b/!

Spanish speakers often substitute /b/ for /v/. They are different:

• /v/: teeth on lip, air flows continuously
• /b/: both lips together, air is stopped then released

Separable Verb

GIVE UP is separable:

• ✅ "I gave up smoking."
• ✅ "I gave smoking up."
• ✅ "I gave it up." (with pronouns, must separate)

Different Meanings

1. Stop trying

2. Quit a habit

3. Surrender

4. Stop believing in someone

Common Expressions

Common Mistakes for Spanish Speakers

1. /v/ vs /b/

Don't say "gibe up." Use the /v/ sound with teeth on lip.

2. The /ɪ/ vowel

"Give" has the short /ɪ/ vowel (like "sit"), not /iː/ (like "seat").

3. The /ʌ/ vowel

"Up" has /ʌ/, a central vowel. It's not the Spanish "a" sound.

Practice Sentences

1. "Don't give UP!" → /doʊnt ɡɪˈvʌp/
2. "I'll never give UP." → /aɪl ˈnevɚ ɡɪˈvʌp/
3. "She gave UP chocolate." → /ʃi ɡeɪv ˈʌp ˈtʃɑːklət/
4. "Have you given UP?" → /hæv jə ˈɡɪvən ˈʌp/

Verb Forms

Quick Summary

• Stress on UP: give UP
• Link /v/ to vowel: "gi-VUP" /ɡɪˈvʌp/
• Use proper /v/ sound (teeth on lip, voiced)
• Separable: "give it up"

Keep going! Next: How to pronounce COME BACK.